Element story

Krypton

Atomic number 36 means that every Krypton nucleus contains 36 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Krypton.

Start with the nucleus

Atomic number 36 means that every Krypton nucleus contains 36 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Krypton.

Krypton (Kr) is chemical element 36. It belongs to the noble gases, and its reference state at room temperature is a gas. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

In practice, it turns up most often in lighting, lasers and insulation.

See the atom

Conceptual visual: electron shells are a learning aid, not a literal picture of quantum orbitals.

What this number means

Atomic number 36 means that every Krypton nucleus contains 36 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Krypton.

Keep exploring

→ Krypton · Atomic structure · Periodic trends

Sources

EN · institutional/academic · IUPAC · CIAAW · NIST